Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Towards a unified terroir zoning methodology in viticulture

Towards a unified terroir zoning methodology in viticulture

Abstract

In viticulture, terroir is a key concept that refers to an area and thus possesses a geographical dimension. Hence, zoning of viticultural terroir is an important issue. This paper addresses soil and climate related aspects of terroir zoning. The first step of the zoning process is a clear identification of the objectives that are being pursued. Soil zoning and climate zoning methods are presented separately, although both approaches are preferably carried out simultaneously, in order to take into account soil-climate interactions in the terroir effect. Definition of a scale adapted to the objectives is critical, particularly so in soil zoning. For soil zoning, the relevance of geology, geomorphology and pedology (soil science) is discussed. The use of new technologies (e.g. GIS or remote sensing) enables the production of more detailed maps at reduced costs. In climate zoning, climate data and agroclimatic indices must be chosen according to the zoning objectives. High quality climatic data must be selected and validated. Following, homogeneous climatic zones are indentified. Viticultural zoning has to be validated, preferably so by eco-physiological studies. This paper is based on the unified terroir zoning methodology that is currently in preparation by the experts of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Cornelis VAN LEEUWEN (1,2), Benjamin BOIS (3), Jean-Philippe ROBY (1,2), Laure de RESSEGUIER (1,2)

(1) Univ. Bordeaux, ISVV, Ecophysiology and functional genomics of grapevines, UMR 1287, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
(2) Bordeaux Sciences Agro, ISVV, Ecophysiology and functional genomics, UMR 1287, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
(3) Centre de Recherches de Climatologie / Biogéosciences, UMR 6282, CNRS – Université de Bourgogne, 6 boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France

Contact the author

Keywords

viticulture, terroir, zoning, soil, climate

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Epigenetics: an innovative lever for grapevine breeding in times of climatic changes

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Margot Berger (INRAE, UMR1287 EGFV, Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, Villenave d’Ornon, France) speaks about epigenetics as an innovative lever for grapevine breeding in times of climatic changes. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.

Diversificazione e valorizzazione di produzioni tipiche sul territorio: I cesanesi

The zone in which the Cesanese vines are cultivated has a secular tradition of red wine­making. This zone is placed between the Simbruini mountains slopes and the surrounding hills and has pedologicai variability but a very homogeneous microclimate.

Metodología para la zonificación de áreas vitícolas: aplicación en un area modelo del Penedés

Se propone una metodología para la zonificación del viñedo, a partir de las características climáticas, edáficas y geomorfológicas, en una área de 3700 ha del Penedés

Effect of environmentally friendly vineyard protection strategies on yeast ecology during fermentation

AIM: Currently, an increasing concern from governments and consumers about environmental sustainability of wine production provides new challenges for innovation in wine industry. Accordingly, the application of more-environmentally friendly vineyard treatments against fungal diseases (powdery and downy mildew) could have a cascading impact on yeast ecology of wine production.

Effects of stress memory on grapevine resilience in response to recurrent drought and recovery events 

Plants have evolved different strategies to cope with environmental stresses and, although still debated, it was observed that they can remember past stress occurrence.
Anatomical and physiological adjustments have been observed in different grapevine cultivars after repeated drought exposure, however epigenetic, transcriptional and biochemical changes associated with drought-primed ecological memory have been poorly studied.
This work was conceived to test whether exposure to recurring events of mild drought could prime vines to endure severe drought stress. Particularly, we investigated whether the expected improved stress tolerance of Vitis vinifera cv Nebbiolo plants subjected over years to moderate and long-lasting water stress events (WS-primed) depended on molecular memory phenomena or on resetting of stress-induced signals.